Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: January | Volume: 8 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 186-193
Prevalence of Anemia among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic of a Selected Hospital in Accra, Ghana
Kwabena Acheampong1, Stella Appiah2, Dorothy Baffour-Awuah2, Yeboah Saka Arhin1
1Valley View University Hospital, Public Health and Laboratory Department, P.O.Box AF 595, Adenta-Accra, Ghana
2Valley View University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, P.O.Box AF 595, Adenta-Accra, Ghana
Corresponding Author: Kwabena Acheampong
ABSTRACT
Background: Anemia troubles about half of Ghanaian grown-up population and its highest value over the past 16 years was 56.40% in 2011, while its lowest value was 49.20% in 1999.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women attending antennal clinic of a selected private hospital in Accra, Ghana.
Methodology: Using across-sectional design, 200 consenting participants were selected for the study. Hemoglobin levels were assessed. Maternal age, gestational age, parity and number of antennal visits were collected from the antenatal record booklet. Data were analyzed using the SPSS programme IBM version 20. Chi-square was used to investigate the association between independent variables and prevalence of anemia. The data were further analyzed using binary logistic regression methods to evaluate possible risk factors associated with anemia. Odd ratio was reported to establish the risk of anemia and 95% confidence interval were estimated. A p<0.05 was considered as statistically significance.
Results: The findings revealed that, the mean with ± standard deviation of hemoglobin value was 10.9±1.3 (95% [confidence interval] =10.7–11.1), and the overall prevalence of anemia from a total of 200 study subjects was 102 (51.0%). The severities of all diagnosed anemia cases were mild (60.8%) to moderate (39.2%). Severe anemia was not found in any of the participants.
Conclusion: The study established that the prevalence of anemia was high and it is associated with parity. Preventive efforts targeting preconception nutrition and promotion of regular antenatal care visit throughout the normal pregnancy is urgently required.
Key words: Pregnant Women, Hemoglobin, Trimester, Antenatal Care, Anemia